Project idea for someone

Guys:

I'd love to see someone combine a Beagleboard (or comparable, so nobody feels left out) along with a head-mounted display and these:

http://www.alphagrips.com/

Assuming I could get it past the TSA, this is probably a system that would be small enough to use on the airline seats that I can afford!

But seriously, if someone put such a package together I'd buy it. I bet I'm not alone.

b.g.

Interesting keyboard, but what's with the quasi-QWERTY layout for
typing? Haven't they every heard of a Chord Keyboard?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chord_keyboard If you've got to re-learn
to type, you might as well get a real improvement.

The Rochester/Bequaert/Sharp Chord Keyboard described in IEEE Computer
December 1976 has a great layout, allowing one-handed typing at speeds
comparable to QWERTY (which isn't that hard, since QWERTY is designed
to slow you down so that the hammers don't jam). I don't know if
anybody makes such a device commercially.

The other thing that's silly is that people are text messaging with
their thumbs on tiny quasi-QWERTY keyboards when they could get much
faster entry speeds with a high-speed Morse code keyer, using just two
touch pads. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_code "iambic
paddle".) Really, really sad IMHO.

you mean something like
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nishanthmenon/2764768928/ ? I had it
working off s-video some months back - have not bothered about a
gaming controller as I am thinking more in terms of using sphinx2 for
voice commands.. ;).. But I think a usb joystick or controller should
be easy addon..

Regards,
Nishanth Menon

Nishanth Menon wrote:

I have it off a connector as in
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nishanthmenon/2814595389/ :)..
I have powered beagleboard off the following:
a) USB
    i) either Laptop
    ii) solar charger
(http://store.solio.com/s.nl/it.A/id.80/.f?sc=7&category=109)
b) AA battery
c) 5v power supply
that is a minor board mod for my rev A board - for the toggle switch
:wink: My idea was a completely autonomous "human computing" system (as in
http://nishanthmenon.blogspot.com/2008/04/dreamer-dream-on.html) might
be great idea for my treks -esp with the usb gps.. :wink:
Regards,
NM

Nishanth Menon wrote:

I have it off a connector as in
BeagleBoard, Flyswatter and JTAG convertor | Beagleboard (ww… | Flickr :)..

Ok, now we're talking! I wonder if Mr. Special could make an enclosure large enough to hold the beagleboard stacked on a nice rechargeable battery pack and controller?

Aside, I've seen some HMDs with integrated gyros, so they can deduce head position as well. Probably a cool option for what you're after.

Would probably just give me motion sickness, though. :slight_smile:

b.g.

Nishanth Menon wrote:

you mean something like
headmounted display on beagle | www.i-glassesstore.com/i-3d.… | Flickr ? I had it
working off s-video some months back - have not bothered about a
gaming controller as I am thinking more in terms of using sphinx2 for
voice commands.. ;).. But I think a usb joystick or controller should
be easy addon..

How does the S-Video quality look when it's in-your-face like that?

b.g.

Bill Gatliff wrote:

Nishanth Menon wrote:

I have it off a connector as in
BeagleBoard, Flyswatter and JTAG convertor | Beagleboard (ww… | Flickr :)..

Ok, now we're talking! I wonder if Mr. Special could make an enclosure large enough to hold the beagleboard stacked on a nice rechargeable battery pack and controller?

For that matter, I wonder if someone could do an SLA model of a handheld controller, with the beagleboard and batteries _inside_ it?

Kinda like the retro Atari gaming joysticks, but with serious, er, firepower. :slight_smile:

Of course if one were to consider the possibility of an OMAP-powered cell phone with S-Video output, then all we'd need is a Bluetooth-enabled keyboard to complete the system...

b.g.

for 300 odd $ which i paid for a 640x480 screen, I get motion sickness
and a mild headache after 3-4 hrs of movie watching :frowning: but I guess
higher resolution screens might be better (but more $$$).. we could
probably hack up one of those minature screens driven from dss (mebbe
RevC board?) and throw away all the s-video ntsc crap.. it might be
possible to integrate beagle, lcd displays a couple of 5mp cameras
(like those on cellphones), a pair of headphones to a cap mebbe?

Dreaming wild here (with unlimited $$) - a little more of an extension:
a) connect something like omap3 + t2 (power, audio, rtc)
b) use an integrated CMOS sensor
-http://www.aptina.com/products/image_sensors/ omap3 supports both
CSi2 and parallel (2 cameras might be possible)
c) use a micro LCD such as those in the headmounted display -> I have
no clue how to get stereo vision here..
d) usb hub allows expansion out
e) integrated BT,WLAN,FM chip such as
http://focus.ti.com/general/docs/wtbu/wtbuproductcontent.tsp?templateId=6123&navigationId=12762&contentId=29993
the list can go and on.. I guess.. it is a matter of how much money
and effort one wants to put in :wink:

OMAP3 has an powerful graphics engine, great power to performance
numbers.. depends on what we can dream up to do with the "lego blocks"
:wink:

Regards,
Nishanth Menon

lol... my target was a sling bag such as
http://www.academy.com/index.php?page=content&target=products/outdoors/luggage/backpacks&start=0&selectedSKU=0252-02157-1231
:wink: but then aesthetics was never one my strengths :wink:
Regards,
NM

Nishanth Menon wrote: